Drinking and pouring device for a can

ABSTRACT

The invention describes a drinking and pouring device for a beverage can ( 1 ) with opening means including a tear-up closure in the top surface ( 5 ) including a tearing ring ( 2 ) and an opening in the top surface ( 5 ), wherein the device comprises a cover ( 3 ) with a rim flange ( 4 ) substantially circumscribing the upper perimeter of the top surface ( 5 ) of the can ( 1 ) for snap-on mounting of the device onto the can ( 1 ), a hole ( 6 ) in the cover ( 3 ), a spout ( 7 ) covering a section of the hole ( 6 ), and a sealing flange ( 8 ) enclosing the tearing ring ( 2 ) of the opening means on the can ( 1 ). By the present invention, a simple cap or lid for a can is provided, wherein the volume of the gap may be reduced or event eliminated so that the risk of releasing dirt particles or other impurities from the surface of the can is reduced which results in a hygienic pouring and drinking device.

[0001] The present invention relates to a drinking and pouring devicefor a beverage can with opening means including a tear-up closure in thetop surface including a tearing ring and an opening in the top surface.

[0002] Sprouts or similar devices for mounting on top of beverage cansare known for use in connection with drinking the content of the canfrom e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,826 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,552.

[0003] These known devices constitute some sort of cap or lid that ismounted on top of the can to block the top opening of the can after ithas been opened. The devices are designed in such a way that it ispossible to drink the content through a pouring attachment that may beopened and closed.

[0004] The problem with such known devices is that a portion of theliquid from the can flows into the enclosed gap between the lid and thetop surface of the can when the beverage liquid is poured out of thecan. In a similar fashion, an amount of beverage liquid remains in thegap between the lid and the top of the can after a portion of thebeverage has been poured. This means that impurities from the surfacearound the can opening are washed out with the drinking liquid just asthe impurities are flushed back into the can. This means that there is arisk that the beverage may be contaminated.

[0005] Another problem with drinking the content of the can is that aperson may cut him- or herself on the sharp edges in the region aroundthe opening.

[0006] On this basis, the object of the invention is to reduce thishygienic problem with the known spouts for cans, such as beer cans,fresh beverage cans and the like.

[0007] This object is achieved by a device of the initially mentionedkind, wherein the device comprises a cover with an annular rim flangesubstantially circumscribing the upper perimeter of the top surface ofthe can for snap-on mounting of the device onto the can, a hole in thecover, a spout covering a section of the hole, and a sealing flangeenclosing the tearing ring of the opening means on the can.

[0008] By the present invention, a simple cap or lid for a can isprovided, wherein the volume of the gap may be reduced or eveneliminated so that the risk of releasing dirt particles or otherimpurities from the surface of the can is reduced which results in ahygienic pouring and drinking device. When the device is positioned ontop of the can, the sealing flange makes contact with the top surface ofthe can, thus reducing the gap volume of the flow passage for theliquid. Due to the cover and the annular snap-on rim flange, the risk ofbeing cut on the edges is eliminated, as the entire top surface of thecan is covered by a the device according to the invention.

[0009] In order to ensure a tight fitting onto the top, an upwardlyprotruding dimple enclosing the tearing ring may be provided. Hereby, itis ensured that the device provides a liquid tight seal even if thetearing ring of the opening means on the can is not fully bent over.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment, the spout partly encompasses asection of the outside of hole along an outer section of the hole.Hereby, the device is particularly suitable as a pouring device sincethe spout is semicircular in its cross-section. This makes it possiblefor air to enter into the can whilst pouring the liquid out of the canand at the same time avoid liquid slashing out of the can which allowsfor a continuous and gentle flow of liquid out of the can.

[0011] In an embodiment of the invention, a protective flange extensionis provided on the rim flange directly next to the spout. Hereby, thedevice covers the part of the can with which the mouth or chin wouldotherwise make contact when drinking directly from the can. Moreover,the flange extension may be used for assisting in the opening of thetear-up closure of the can.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment, the device is made in one singlepiece, preferably moulded in a biologically inert polymer material.Hereby, the hygienic aspect is taken a step further, as it is ensuredthat no fluid may be trapped in sharp corners in the device whilsteither drinking or cleaning the device or during engagement with thematerial of the device. When producing the device in a single mouldedpiece, the device is provided with smooth transitions between thevarious portions.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rim flange mayslide on the periphery of the top surface for shifting the hole awayfrom the opening of the can by turning the device. Hereby, a closurefunction is provided in addition to the other advantages in a simple butefficient way. In order for the closure function to work properly, thespring force created by the rim flange when snapped onto the top surfacein its position allows this sliding movement. Since the tearing ring isusually able to be turned on the opening means of the can, this ringwill rotate together with the device on the top surface of the can.

[0014] The invention is explained in detail with reference to theembodiments described in the accompanying drawings, in which

[0015]FIG. 1 is a side view of a device according to a first embodimentof the invention,

[0016] FIGS. 2 to 4 are rear, bottom and top views, respectively, ofsame,

[0017]FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a device mounted onto a can,and

[0018]FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention.

[0019] In FIGS. 1 to 5, a first embodiment of a device according to theinvention for pouring and drinking the content of a beverage can isshown. The device comprises a cover 3 with an annular flange 4dimensioned in such a manner that it can be mounted onto the top of acan. The flange 4 ensures that the device is mounted by snap-onmounting. The device is provided with a hole 6 placeable directly abovethe opening in the top surface 5 of the can 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 5). Aspout 7 is provided around a section of the hole 6. The device is formedso that the periphery of the hole 6 is in contact with the top surface 5of the can 1 or at least around the section of the hole 6 provided withan upwardly protruding spout 7. Hereby, the liquid content of the canmay be poured out of the can and into a glass or may be drunk directlyfrom the can 1. In the cover flange opposite the hole 6, an upwardlyprotruding dimple 9 is formed so that the tearing ring 2 of the openingmeans of the can is enclosed. On the inside or lower side of the cover3, a sealing flange 8 is provided around the periphery of the dimple 9enclosing the tearing ring 2 and ensuring that the gap between the lowerside of the cover 3 and the top surface 5 is limited, so that the flowcommunication between the opening and the peripheral regions on the topsurface is blocked. This is important, since deposits of dirt and otherimpurities are often collected in these regions.

[0020] By the sealing flange 7, these deposits are prevented from beingbrought into contact with the beverage and thus from being washed outinto the glass or the like.

[0021] The cover 3 may be provided with a hollow annular periphery 11inside the rim flange 2. Hereby, drops of beverage running on theoutside of the spout may be collected so that the can will not leavering marks on e.g. the table where it is being placed after the contenthas been emptied out.

[0022] In the first embodiment, an extension flange 10 is provided onthe rim flange 4 outside the spout 7. This extension ensures acomfortable drinking experience when drinking directly from the can 1,since the lips of the mouth are prevented from coming in contact withthe can itself.

[0023] This extension flange 10 may be provided with an inscription,such as an advertisement, a logo, a personalised mark, a name, etc.

[0024] In a second embodiment, the device may be provided with a broadrim flange 4 as shown in FIG. 4. Otherwise, the device may be providedwith the same features as described in the first embodiment, i.e. thesealing flange 8, the spout 7, the hole 6, etc. The broad rim flange 4may provide a better grip on the can.

[0025] The spout 7 is preferably and substantially semicircular shape sothat a passage exists for letting air into the can whilst pouring theliquid out of the can. Hereby, slashing is avoided.

[0026] By the invention, it is understood that many variations of thedrinking and pouring device may be made without departing from the scopeof the inventions such as described in the accompanying claims.

1. A drinking and pouring device for a beverage can (1) with openingmeans including a tear-up closure in the top surface (5) including atearing ring (2) and an opening in the top surface (5), characterised bysaid device comprising a cover (3) with a rim flange (4) substantiallycircumscribing the upper perimeter of the top surface (S) of the can (1)for snap-on mounting of the device onto the can (1), a hole (6) in thecover (3), a spout (7) covering a section of the hole (6), and a sealingflange (8) enclosing the tearing ring (2) of the opening means on thecan (1).
 2. A drinking and pouring device according to claim 1, whereinan upwardly protruding dimple (9) for enclosing the tearing ring (2) isprovided.
 3. A drinking and pouring device according to claim 1 or 2,wherein the spout (7) encloses a section of the outside of hole (6)along an outer section of the hole (6).
 4. A drinking and pouring deviceaccording to any of the preceding claims, wherein a protective flangeextension (10) is provided on the rim flange (4) directly next to thespout (7).
 5. A drinking and pouring device according to any of thepreceding claims, wherein the device is made in one single piece.
 6. Adrinking and pouring device according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the device is moulded in a biologically inert polymer material.7. A drinking and pouring device according to any of the precedingclaims, wherein the rim flange (4) may slide on the periphery of the topsurface for shifting the hole (6) away from the opening of the can (1)by turning the device.